US OPEN

September 6, 1999

Serena Williams

WTA: Questions for Serena.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, basically just a matter of making some adjustments, getting my consistency together, getting myself together basically.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I played her better. She was definitely playing better than what she was in the past. She's definitely improved a lot. She was playing a lot better. I don't know if she was playing her best. I don't know, but she was doing pretty well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was kind of sticky out there. It was really humid. But I'm used to that weather because I live in Florida. It doesn't matter.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Really looking forward to it. I love playing Monica. It's a great match. Whenever we play, it's always very intense and very fun. So I'm looking forward to it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think these kinds of tests are important if they should happen. It can also kind of cut your career short.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Playing too many hours out in the sun, it will definitely cut your career short. I have to get more serious, unless I want to have a shorter career. Two years, I'm out (laughter). That's a little exaggeration.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't remember the airplanes being that bad the day before. I don't know what was going on. There was so many passing over. Didn't bother me. I'm from Compton, California. I'm used to that, really.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Kind of, sort of. There's just all kinds of other activities going on. People in the background playing basketball. There was just a lot of things happening usually. I really had no problem with it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, because now I don't have anything to lose. She's ranked better than what I am. I really don't have anything to lose. I'm really looking forward to it. It gets me more psyched up and pumped up. I tend to play better. I'm really looking forward.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Actually, I think it gets less. In the beginning rounds, it's like you're supposed to win, you have to win; whereas, the farther you get, it's more or less either the fact that you're going to win, like that. I think in the earlier rounds it might be a little more tougher than the quarterfinals or the semifinals.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was seeded at the French Open. I was seeded at Wimbledon, so.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: There's no pressure on me. I don't have any pressure on me at all. I guess motivation, I don't know. I couldn't say because I'm seeded 6 this year I'm really motivated. I guess, so. It definitely doesn't add any pressure at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I always kind of tended to play on the show courts, really. It's really sad that we're losing two great players. They were both great for their times; had a lot of Slams between them.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I like her voice. It's the sweetest voice I've ever heard. It's like so light. You think someone with her stature, her size, how long she's been around on the Tour and stuff, I never realized that her voice was like that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, she's really good in doubles. She's great. In singles, too.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it's fading away. I think maybe the next generation is going to bring it back, incorporate it more into the game. I think it's -- it's taken away now. I think it's going to come back. But I don't know.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean even younger girls. I can't stick around too long. It's always going to be someone else's turn. This is my turn now. The next generation before me, they're just going to be -- it's just going to be their turn soon.

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